Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil in front of Ford's Theatre, and a wreath laying ceremony on the steps of the Petersen House commemorating the 150th anniversary of President Lincoln’s death on April 15.

At the horse show, Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, N.J., kicked off the first day of international jumper competition with a win, riding Davendy S. Jessica may not yet be as well known as her dad Bruce.

Whether it is the concert on the U.S. Capitol lawn, ceremonies at the U.S. Navy Memorial or Vietnam Veterans Memorial, or the roar of motorcycles with Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day in Washington, D.C., is always close to home and never ignored.

Whatever your political leaning, it is always quite the scene at the annual event known as CPAC, short for the Conservative Political Action Conference. This year, it was held in Maryland at National Harbor.

Thousands of volunteers, dressed in white, gathered on the National Mall to create a powerful visible protest against genocide and to raise awareness of mass atrocities in Sudan, Burma, Somalia, Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Senior members of the military and member of the theatrical establishment held a joint press conference at the Arena Stage's Mead Center for American Theater April 18 to announce the expansion of Blue Star Theatres Program to help military families.

Mitt Romney's Saturday announcement of Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate began in Norfolk, Va., in the morning and ended at a late afternoon rally in Manassas, Va., about 30 miles from the White House.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an exposition of "living cultural heritage annually produced outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, DC, by the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage."

Pro-cycling returned to Arlington for its 15th season. Cycling pros from around the world competed in the Annual Air Force Cycling Classic, in Clarendon on Saturday June 9 and in Crystal City on Sunday June 10.

The annual National Memorial Day Concert on Sunday May 27 was interrupted about half way through due to a weather emergency. But were able to grab close-up photos of the entire performance at the full dress rehearsal a day earlier inlcuding performances by Joe Montegna, Gary Sinise, Daughtry, Natalie Cole, Trace Adkins, Jessica Sanchez, Ellen Burstyn, Dennis Franz, Selma Blair and Russell Watson.

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the National Asian Heritage Festival's Fiesta Asia held their 7th annual street fair covering three full blocks on Pennsylvania Ave. near the Capitol on May 19.

The International Children’s Festival is an interactive, educational event that allows children of all ages to travel the world in a single day. This year's 6th annual edition was held at the The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Sunday May 6, 2012.

What was billed as the largest celebration of science in the US, the 2nd USA Science and Engineering Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on April 28-29 featured over 3000 interractive exhibits and 100 stage shows.

We spotted actress Glenn Close and husband David E. Shaw outside the entrance to the Newseum in Washington D.C. to attend the 60th birthday party for John S. Hendricks, the Founder and Chairman of Discovery Communications on Friday, March 30.

Over 13,000 gathered for the annual AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C. on March 4-6, 2012. AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a pro-Israel lobby group. Speakers included Presdent Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Shimon Peres and many of the GOP Presidential Candidates.

Every four years, Americans elect a president, and candidates and reporters face off on the campaign trail. On Feb. 17, just in time for President's Day weekend, the Newseum is opening a new election year exhibit, "Every Four Years: Presidential Campaigns and the Press" featuring 120 artifacs from elections past.

Thousands of Conservative activists from around the country gathered at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on February 9-11 for the three day Conservative Political Action Committe, also known as CPAC 2012. Most of the major Republican candidates and conservative leaders were on hand with one unifying mission, defeating President Obama in November. View our photos by clicking on the photo icons below.

At a special ceremony marking the opening of the new Warner Bros. Theater at the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian presented Clint Eastwood with the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal in honor of Eastwood's contribution to the American Experience through film.

Otto Porter scored the final six points helping the 10th ranked Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball team avoid an upset by the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a defensive battle at the Verizon Center on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

Thousands of abortion opponents marched to the Supreme Court on January 23, 2012, under rainy conditions to mark the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. View our photo by clicking on the photo icons below.

The Music Center at Strathmore was host to a moving celebration in honor of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 16, 2012. The highlight of the program was Dr. King himself, in the guise of Mr. Gregg Riley, a talented actor and a dead ringer for the noted civil rights leader.

During the holiday season, the U.S. Botanic Garden presents "Season’s Greenings", a unique exhibit featuring model trains and incredible replicas of Washington, DC's most famous buildings and monuments.

The U.S. Congress held a ceremony on Capitol Hill on November 2, 2011 to award the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest civilian honor, to more than 1,000 Japanese-American veterans, now in their 80s and 90s, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.

Inspired by the "Occupy Wall Street" protests in New York City, protesters gathered at Freedom Plaza in Washington to "Occupy DC" on Thursday October 6. View our slideshow from that protest by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet).
View additional photos by clicking here.

An estimated 200,000 book-lovers gathered on the National Mall this weekend for the first-ever two-day National Book Festival. Organized by the Library of Congress with Honorary Co-Chairs President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, The National Book Festival was co-founded by former first lady Laura Bush in 2001.
(All photos by Jeff Malet)

View photos below of the Fourth of July Festivities in Washington DC.
The National Independence Day Parade and Fireworks over the Washington Monument.
Plus a performance by the US Army 3rd Infantry "The Old Guard" Fife and Drum Corps, and a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives.

The announcement of the death of Osama Bin Laden sparked a spontaneous celebration at the north gate of the White House with chants of USA USA and the National Anthem. Midnight to 3 AM on May 1-2, 2011.

The annual White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington DC Hilton is the place where politicians, news correspondents and Hollywood types mingle. For any photographer, the attraction is irrisistable. Our camera followed the invitees to the Hilton and then to the big MSNBC afterparty at the Italian Embassy. April 30, 2011.

The First Family hosted 30,000 people from all 50 states on the South Lawn of the White House for the 133rd White House Easter Egg Roll on April 25, 2011 in Washington DC. The theme of this year's egg roll is “Get Up and Go,” tied into first lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity initiative to raise a healthier generation of kids.